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Show JTHE DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE 8 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 Slumping Utes look for home resurgence ROBARTS IS A KEY TEAM MEMBER FOR RED ROCKS continued from Page 6 University as Robarts mother is a health and physical education professor at the school. Thanks to Robarts' early start, her dreams of becoming a college gymnast flourished. She said she didn't dream much of the Olympics and didn't get too far in that quest. She did compete for two years as an elite gymnast but didn't enjoy it much. "You have to be ioo percent (into) gymnastics, and you can't have a life," Robarts said. That meant she spent a lot less time at the San Marcos river with her friends. The river winds through the town and serves as the primary source of entertainment. Robarts visited the river after school and during the summer as much as she could. The body of water was a refreshing 72 degrees—which Robarts called "freezing"—and was a great escape from the stifling Texas humidity. What stifles Robarts now is the challenge of college gymnastics. But her teammates don't buy into her claims that she is a nervous competitor. "She does a very good job of hiding it if she is nerve-wracked," Katie Kivisto said. Robarts' ability to hide her nerves was on full display during Utah's meet against Minnesota. During her balance beam routine, she slipped and ended up sitting on the beam. After a moment of hesitation, Robarts waved her arm above her head in the most artistic move she could think of, receiving a chuckle and a round of applause from the Huntsman Center crowd. , . "She has the ability on our field yet, but I'm excited to come home. It'll be nice to have the crowd behind us this time." Other newcomers experiencing the Ute softball field for the first time are . freshmen Brittany Parker and Laura Dahlberg, as well as transfers Bonnie Muir and Angie Boardman. Last season, the Utes struggled at home and thrived on the road. Utah went 3-8 at home while going 22-18 on the road. The struggling Thunderbirds (4-14) should provide some relief for the Utes at home. SUU is riding a six-game losing streak after dropping a pair to Portland State over the weekend. Utah has already beaten SUU once, 9-0, on Feb. 9 in St. George. Sharee Fonoti hit a grand slam in a seven-run fourth inning. As a team, the Utes hit .460 against SUU's Kristina Brooks. Smuda and fellow pitcher Haili Squire allowed one hit in the shutout. Following today's doubleheader, the Utes will travel to the San Diego State tournament this weekend. j.peterson@ chronicle.utah.edu Jason Peterson 1 STAFF WRITER The U softball team opens its first two home games of the season with a doubleheader against SUU starting today at 2 p.m. The Utes are coming off a disappointing weekend at the Diamond Devil Invitational in Tempe, Ariz., where they went 0-5. Currently sitting at 10-10, the club is counting on the change of scenery to bring a change of luck in the standings. "I would hope so," head coach Amy Hogue said of her team's turnaround. "I would like to think we can play just as well no matter where we go, but not having to travel is a plus. The girls get to sleep in their own beds for once." However, for some of the Utes playing at home doesn't necessarily mean it's all familiar territory. Hogue is a first-year coach, and she isn't entirely sure what to expect from a home-field advantage. Ditto for starting pitcher Ashley Smuda, who transferred to the U from Tempe during the offseason. "I don't know what it's going to be like," Smuda said. "I haven't played KAMRANI SAYS UTES MUST LEARN HOW TO FLY much to help the Lost Boys achieve victory. At some point, Utah's Lost Boys are going to have to learn how to fight. And if all goes according to plan, Utah will have an uphill battle with games against New Mexico, UNLV and BYU likely to fill their immediate future. If Utah can get past that MWC gauntlet, it will be well on its way to the second star on the right and straight on till morning—in other words, they'll be punching a fairytale ticket to the NCAA Tournament. c.kamrani@chronicleMtah.edu continued from Page 6 This year, Kyndal Robarts has demonstrated her ability to perform when in the spotlight. Because of this, head coach Greg Marsden sees Robarts becoming the next great all-around performer for Utah. to take things in stride," Kivisto said. "I think hi the future she'll be a very good leader." If Robarts hadn't begun gymnastics in a gym at Texas State as a child, she wouldn't be in Utah now. She would more likely be with her older sister at the , University of Texas. The life-long Longhorns fan UTES TAKE BREATH AFTER PRO DAY continued from Page 6 After completing his planned workout Monday, Tate did personal workouts. for the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts, among others. He is projected to be drafted somewhere between round five and seven. "Fortunately, it seems like a down year for safeties, so that'll help (me get recognized)," Tate said. "Not getting invited to the combine, you have to do what you can to mix with those that got invited, and I think I accomplished that today." Defensive end Martail Burnett also drew plenty of interest after an impressive workout Monday. As per the current NFL trend, the All-MWC end was being looked at as a down lineman and as an outside linebacker for 3-4 packages. Burnett says he felt good about his performance but could have done better in the unanticipated linebacker coverage drills. "I've just got to polish up a little bit more in the linebacker areas," Burnett said. "I've never played it before, and I haven't had too much practice in that position. I've just got to improve in it from now on. If that's what it's going to take to make it, then I'll do it." Others who competed at the U Pro Day were Derrek Richards, Brian Hernandez, Joe Jiannoni, Jason Boone, Kyle Gunther, Casey Sutera, Gabe Long, Tommy Grady and Darryl Poston. Whether they felt good about their performance Monday or not, one thing is for sure: All of the athletes will rest much more easily now that they are done with the mentally and physically taxing Pro Day. is from a diehard football state. "People here just don't understand/' Robarts said about the intensity surrounding football in Texas. The University of Texas may have spectacular football, but the U has spectacular gymnastics. Robarts has the opportu- "I thought I was going to have a great night of sleep (Sunday night), and next thing I know, I woke up and my heart was thumping in my chest," Long said. "I was like, 'What if I don't run this?' or 'What if I don't run that?' It definitely feels better knowing that I'm done with this." The former Utes now play the waiting game until the NFL Draft on April 26 and 27. Those that go without being drafted have the option to test the waters of free agency. Notes: Hernandez and Richards both ran low 4.4s in the 40-yard dash then ran receiving drills, including Utah's route tree from Grady. Grady was getting looks from multiple teams for his arm strength but did not participate in any of the running drills. Kyle Gunther >ench-pressed 225 lbs. an impressive 33 times—four fewer than highly-touted Michigan offensive lineman Jake Long. c.brunner@ chronicle.utah.edu nity—whether she's nervous or not—to compete all-around for the most decorated program in women's collegiate gymnastics. "Ultimately, I think that's what most people's goal would be," Robarts said. j.gilbert@ chronicle.utah.edu the bench and has excelled in finishing near the rim and staying out of foul trouble. The question is, which Lost Boy is going to lead the team into battle come tournament time? Everyone knows the Runnin' Utes' Peter Pan will be geared up for battle. But unlike past quarrels, Pan can only do so BRUNNER THINKS UTAH HAS NO CHANCE TO WIN take it as an insult that their own school paper isn't giving them a chance and decide to use it as motivation to pound some Lobo ass. And hopefully, Christopher Kamrani never references Peter Pan in a sports column ever, ever again. You just got docked 10 man points for that, Kamrani. c.brunner@chronicle.utah.edu continued from Page 6 Hopefully, I'm wrong. Hopefully, Jim Boylen and the rest of the Utes 2007-2008 All-Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Team Player,School , .•: :v ..-,>.•; Class Position Height Weight Hometown Junior Junior Senior Junior Junior G/F F/C G F G 6-7 6-6 6-0 185 245 215 228 200 Senior Junior Senior Junior Junior G G G C G 6-3 6-0 6-0 7-1 6-2 180 175 180 265 190 Sophomore Junior Freshman Junior Senior F F F 6-6 6-8 6-7 6-8 6-5 215 272 190 243 205 First-Team All-Mountain West Lee Cummard, BYU Trent Plaisted, BYU • " J.R. Giddens, New Mexico Lorrenzo Wade, San Diego State Wink Adams, UNLV • 6-11 6-5 Mesa, Ariz. San Antonio, Texas Oklahoma City, Okla. Las Vegas, Nev. Houston, Texas Second-Team All-Mountain West Tim Anderson, Air Force '*' Marcus Walker, Colorao State Johnnie Bryant, Utah Luke Nevill, Utah Brandon Ewing, Wyoming El Paso, Texas Kansas City, Kan. Oakland, Calif. Perth, Australia . Chicago, III. Third-Team All-Mountain West Jonathan Tavernari, BYU Ryan Amoroso, San Diego State Billy White, San Diego State Kevin Langford,TCU ; y;.-^ : CurtisTerry,UNLV S F G/F Sao Bernardo, Brazil Burnsville, Minn. Las Vegas, Nev. Fort Worth, Texas University Place, Wash Honorable Mention ChadToppert, junior, G, New Mexico; Joe Darger, junior, F, UNL,V; Rene Rougeau, junior, G, UNLV; Brent Hackett, senior, G,TCU; Daniel Faris, junior, C, New Mexico . Co-Players of the Year: Lee Cummard, BYU ; ''-' \.f- J.R. G i d d e n s , N e w M e x i c o ' . , , ' . . , Defensive Player of the Year: Tim Anderson, Air Force N e w c o m e r o ft h eYear: '"•• ' ** Marcus Walker, C o l o r a d o State ' ' F r e s h m a n o f t h e Year: ,. . JARAD REDDEKOPP /The Doily Ulcli (hrenittt After being snubbed by the NFL Combine, Steve Tate impressed during Pro Day. Tate performed personal workouts for a number of teams, including the Broncos and Colts. , ••- •" - ' B i l l y W h i t e , San D i e g o S t a t e *t?'"! ••••-'''- v "..'\>-rM)t • •*• :j : .' Coach of the Year: - ' . •'^•'.'"• ^ •• =' v r''\~v'i$<\'"* LonKruger,UNLV •?;:'-' ;>'*?&. *^.-'i".afi*^ For pp^lip-date. coverage of the Mountain West Conference men's and women's basketball tournaments, visit us online at W^c/a/^ufahchron/c/ecom |